One killed, several injured in Sokoto IED blast

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A passenger has been confirmed dead while several others sustained injuries after a commercial vehicle struck a suspected Improvised Explosive Device allegedly planted by bandits along the Kurawa–Sabon Birni road in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

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The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday as the vehicle was conveying commuters from neighbouring communities to Sabon Birni town.

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A security analyst, Bashir Altine Guyawa, who disclosed the incident on his Facebook page, said the vehicle unknowingly ran over the explosive device during a routine morning trip.

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“A passenger vehicle conveying commuters to Sabon Birni this morning struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) allegedly planted by loyalists of a notorious bandit leader along the Kurawa–Sabon Birni road,” Guyawa stated.

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He added that the explosion killed one passenger and left several others with varying degrees of injuries.

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“The explosion claimed the life of one passenger, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he said.

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Residents who responded to the scene described the aftermath as devastating, with the force of the explosion severely damaging the vehicle and leaving victims trapped in the wreckage.

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An eyewitness who participated in the rescue operation said panic engulfed the area immediately after the blast.

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“We heard a loud explosion and rushed to the scene. The vehicle was badly damaged, and people were crying for help as residents tried to rescue the victims,” the eyewitness said.

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The injured were reportedly evacuated to nearby medical facilities for treatment, while the body of the deceased was recovered from the scene.

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The attack has heightened fears among residents of Sabon Birni and surrounding communities, where recurring bandit attacks have continued to threaten lives and disrupt economic activities.

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As of the time of filing this report, the Sokoto State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

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Calls and text messages sent to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, were not responded to.

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Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion and identify those responsible for planting the suspected explosive device.

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